Introduction: Making a Choice You are about to embark upon the most exciting stage of your school career. As you approach the end of compulsory education, you will need to be thinking of the subjects you wish to study in the Sixth Form.
The qualifications we offer lead to university entrance worldwide. The courses are all designed for specialists, and are therefore excellent preparation for the rigorous demands of top-class universities. Our students gain admission to a large number of Universities, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. At The British School of Paris we are pleased to be able to offer a large variety of subjects to Advanced Level. We can also offer support and extension possibilities: General Certificate of Secondary Education subjects in Year 12, BTEC courses, the possibility to extend beyond A level competence in French and Spanish and EPQ: the Extended Project Qualification created to provide additional stretch and challenge and better prepare students for university demands. Students progressing into the Sixth Form follow a rigorous schedule and helping you to reach your academic potential is one of our primary aims. Our examination results are excellent and we are very proud of the achievements of our students.
Entry into A Level courses is not for everyone. If you are already in the British System, you will need five GCSE passes at grade C and good grades in your chosen subjects, in order to study A Levels. Whatever your educational experience, please be aware, the level of expectation amongst your teachers will be high. If A Level study is not for you consider our Foundation Year Programme. What factors should you consider in your choice of Sixth Form programme?
You should be genuinely interested in the subject you have chosen. Each course will represent a large part of your week. You must be able to enjoy what you are studying. If you have a passion for a particular subject combined with a real desire to extend your learning, success will be an enjoyable challenge.
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There are no easy options in the Sixth Form. You should remember that courses at this level can be markedly different from GCSE courses which bear the same name. Read carefully the course descriptions, written by the various Heads of Departments. Consider not only the syllabus content but the various skills which you will have to develop. Take into account the amount of practical work. Think of the bias in the course towards the mathematical, the scientific or the literary. Some subjects demand a strong GCSE pass; some accept students without a GCSE. Discuss all this with the subject teachers at The British School of Paris.
Naturally you must consider choice of career. We hope that most of you will have at
least a general idea of the type of career you wish to pursue, although you may not yet have decided upon a particular profession. Consult widely: read the University Application and Careers section in the 6th Form Student Guide. Discuss your thoughts with your parents, the Careers Department, your subject teachers and your tutor.
You should be realistic about your ambitions.
For many courses in Higher Education you will require not merely to pass A Levels but to score grades A*, A or B in them. Be aware of this when you make your choices. For some careers you will see that there is little or no room for manoeuvre in your choice of subjects. However, if you are still uncertain, try to leave, in your choice of subjects, the possibility of a change of direction. Certain subjects complement each other. Broadly speaking one can divide the subjects into Arts, Humanities and Sciences. Within each category the skills which are taught reinforce each other. For instance English and History can be allied with Languages, whereas Geography has more in common with scientific subjects, and we strongly advise that Physics should be combined with Mathematics. Finally, of course, there are a large number of University courses available not directly related to specific school subjects. Please check the entry requirements if you are already certain of your University choice.